MSTA Leadership Conference

Where MSTA Leaders Meet

July 17-18, 2023

Holiday Inn Executive Center • Columbia, Missouri

Leadership Conference Links

Hotel Information

Leadership Workshops

Craig King - A Small Bump in the Road: A Message of Perseverance and Purpose

Mr. Craig Q. King serves as Director of Teacher Leadership for the Palmetto State Teachers Association, Site Coordinator for the Call Me MiSTER Program at Columbia College, and the CEO/Founder the Craig King Group, LLC. He is a 2004 and 2007 graduate of South Carolina State University where he received his B.S. in Elementary Education and his Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. He is a former third grade teacher and taught at Whittaker Elementary School in Orangeburg, South Carolina for seven years. Mr. King is a National Board Certified Teacher holding his certification as an Early Childhood Generalist.

Mr. King is the author of the book The Path to Exceptional Living: 15 Lessons to Living an Extraordinary LifeHe is the  co-host of the Conversations with Craig & Kobie Podcast and host of The PSTA Podcast. He is married to Tasia King and they have one daughter, Saniah. He is a proud 22-year cancer survivor and understands his purpose in life is to capture, inspire, teach, and serve the people of the world!

Dan Meers, aka KC Wolf - Courageous Leadership – Living a Life of Influence

Dan Meers goes to work each day like many other men dressed in a suit. The only difference is that instead of wearing a tie with his suit, Dan wears a tail. You see, Dan is a professional mascot.

Dan began his career in 1986 at the University of Missouri dressed as the school mascot, Truman Tiger. It didn’t take long for Dan to establish himself as one of the top college mascots in the nation. After finishing second in 1988, Dan was selected the nations #1 college mascot at the 1989 National Collegiate Mascot Championships. As graduation approached, Dan began to receive offers to use his talents at the professional level.

 

After graduating with honors, Dan decided to trade in his tiger stripes for bird feathers and began his professional career as Fredbird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Although many thought Dan’s “bird legs” were a perfect match for his costume in St. Louis, Dan stayed only a short time. He was offered a job in professional football and decided to exchange his bird suit to become a wolf.

 

Today Dan is widely known as KC Wolf, the official mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. He travels throughout the United States and the world entertaining thousands of people both in and out of costume. Dan is in high demand not only as a mascot but also as a humorous and motivational speaker to audiences of all ages. His enthusiasm, optimism and love for life are contagious and makes Dan an inspiration to all those he meets.

Dan lives in Kansas City, MO with his wife and three children.

 

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